Swimming can be very good for your health. Being in water makes the body more buoyant, which can make it much easier to perform movements that would be too painful or difficult to do otherwise.

So swimming is excellent for pregnant women and children with asthma. It can help people with arthritis or osteoporosis, who are overweight, or who are rehabilitating after injury or surgery.

Research suggests frequent swimming can reduce the risk of premature death by almost 30%, and the risk of death by cardiovascular disease by about 40%.

Any kind of pool-based activity is great. If you want more support with your medical condition or weight-management programme, the following sessions might be helpful.

Ladies swim and tone class

• Thursdays, 11.10 to 11.55am at Chesterton Sports Centre
• Led by a qualified instructor
• £4 per session, or free for Everyone Health adult weight management members
• Booking is essential
• Blinds to the pool windows are closed

Swimming for visually impaired people

• Wednesdays, 2.45 to 3.30pm at Chesterton Sports Centre
• Open to people who are visually impaired or blind, and any disabled people
• Contact the centre for more information

Dementia-friendly swimming

• At King’s Hedges Learner Pool
• Contact GLL at mailto:healthwise@gll.org or 01223 240271 for more information

Swimming for exercise referral participants

• Attend public swimming sessions for £3 per session or as part of a reduced membership rate
• At Abbey Leisure Complex or Chesterton Sports Centre